Knowshon Moreno - Pro Football Rumors

Monday Roundup: Graham, Taylor, Dolphins

June 30th, 2014 at 10:02pm CST by Rory Parks

Let’s take a look at some links from around the league on this Monday evening:

Arbitrator Stephen Burbank will issue his decision on Saints tight end Jimmy Graham‘s franchise tag grievance on Thursday, according to Adam Schefter and Mike Triplett of ESPN.com.
Steelers‘ cornerback Ike Taylor, who agreed to reduce his 2014 salary from $7MM to $2.5MM in March, and who seemed at peace when speaking with reporters about his decision just a month ago–he simply said “my [new] salary is a lot of money”–has apparently had a change of heart. As Mark Kaboly of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes, Taylor recently appeared on The Jim Rome Show and stated, “Did it hurt me? Hell yeah. Does it still hurt? Yeah, it hurts, but hopefully I can go in and bounce back this year, do what I need to do on the field and we will see what happens after.” Of course, there is nothing Taylor can do about it now, and both he and the Steelers are hoping for a bounce-back year in 2014.
ESPN’s Adam Caplan tweets a couple of options for the Eagles as they make to shuffle their offensive line in the wake of the Lane Johnson suspension.
Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com continues his Best Contract/Worst Contract series with the Falcons. He explains why the team’s best contract is with wideout Roddy White, and the worst is with LT Sam Baker.
Dr. David Chao, whose piece for the National Football Post we referenced earlier today with regards to the dangers associated with playing football on dirt–as they do in the Oakland Coliseum–also passed along a couple of Dolphins injury notes. Chao confirms that running back Knowshon Moreno has had his knee scoped and should return in time for the majority of training camp, but he expects center Mike Pouncey to wind up on the PUP list, requiring him to miss at least the first six weeks of the season.

Dolphins Notes: Pouncey, Moreno, Finley

June 23rd, 2014 at 4:40pm CST by Luke Adams

The Dolphins’ offensive line, which underwent a massive overhaul following last year’s bullying scandal and general poor performance, took another hit today, and are now expected to open the 2014 season with five new starters along the line. Here’s the latest on that story, as well as a few more Dolphins-related notes:

Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey underwent hip surgery today and is expected to be sidelined for about three months, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. As Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports clarifies (via Twitter), the procedure was a labrum repair, and figures to keep Pouncey out for the early part of the regular season. The standout center had also been a candidate to sign a contract extension this summer, but perhaps now the two sides will wait for him to get healthy — there’s no real rush, since the Dolphins exercised their 2015 team option on Pouncey earlier this spring.
Pouncey isn’t the only Dolphin to undergo a surgical procedure this week. Schefter also reports within the same story that running back Knowshon Moreno, who signed with the club in March, will have arthroscopic surgery performed on his knee and will miss four or five weeks.
Third-round offensive lineman Billy Turner is one of just five draftees who has yet to sign his rookie contract, but the unresolved issues aren’t significant, and the signing should become official by mid-July, says Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Within Jackson’s piece, the Herald scribe also notes that the Dolphins were among the teams to inquire on Jermichael Finley, though it sounds like the club hasn’t seriously pursued the free agent tight end.
Former LSU defensive tackle Anthony Johnson, who will head to training camp with the Dolphins, has switched agencies from ProSource Sports to Rosenhaus Sports, tweets Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal.

AFC East Notes: Wilkerson, Tuel, Moreno

June 22nd, 2014 at 11:34am CST by Rory Parks

Let’s take a swing around the AFC East on this Sunday afternoon:

There are a number of Patriots items today. Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com writes that, with all the attention being directed towards Dominique Easley and Jimmy Garoppolo, fourth-round running back James White–whom coach Bill Belichick has compared to Shane Vereen–has quietly put together a very impressive spring.
Christopher Price of WEEI.com writes that the Patriots made eight personnel moves between the end of minicamp and the beginning of training camp last year, and similar roster tweaks could be on the way this season. For instance, a veteran tight end like Jermichael Finley or Dustin Keller might be added to the roster, and there has been some speculation as to the team’s interest in recently-released players like Jason Babin and Brandon Flowers (though Price sees New England as something of an unlikely destination for Babin and Flowers).
Eric Frenz of Boston.com looks at a number of Patriots-related topics, including his opinion on what he believes to be the team’s strongest position (cornerback), and weakest (tight end).
Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com expects the Jets to make a run at signing Muhammad Wilkerson to an extension before training camp, and he advises fans to keep an eye on the J.J. Watt situation in Houston as a measuring stick for Wilkerson negotiations.
In the same piece, Cimini adds that the Jets are unlikely to add a veteran corner, and that Jalen Saunders was the rookie wideout that most impressed in minicamp.
Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com writes that Bills‘ quarterback Jeff Tuel has made significant strides and will push Thaddeus Lewis for the backup quarterback spot.
Andrew Abramson of The Palm Beach Post writes that Dolphins‘ running back Knowshon Moreno has a knee injury that could require arthroscopic surgery, but he would be expected to heal in time for the regular season, if not training camp.
Christopher L. Shelton of The Sun-Sentinel describes the path that undrafted defensive tackle Anthony Johnson has taken to the Dolphins’ roster. Shelton believes Johnson, who has impressed this spring, could make the club as a reserve behind Randy Starks, Jared Odrick, and Earl Mitchell.

AFC East Notes: Marino, Dareus, Patriots

June 2nd, 2014 at 7:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Former Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino has joined 14 former players in suing the NFL, reports Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times. In an 18-page complaint, the litigants claim that the league withheld ” information about football-related brain injuries and misled players,” allegations that the NFL has long denied. Marino, who retired in 1999, had been a broadcaster with CBS’ The NFL Today from 2002 until January 2014, leading Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post to wonder (via Twitter) if Marino would have been involved in the lawsuit had his relationship with CBS (and tangentially, the NFL) not been terminated.

More news from the AFC East:

Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, already facing felony charges in Alabama stemming from a May incident, was arrested last week and charged on seven counts regarding a car race, according to James Staas of the Buffalo News. Dareus, whose 2015 option was exercised in April, could face an NFL suspension. This latest episode could also dissuade the Bills from offering Dareus an extension; in February, Buffalo general manager Doug Whaley said a new deal was “on the radar,” but perhaps not a priority.
The Bills have several options regarding Dareus, writes ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak, which include releasing the Pro Bowler immediately (unlikely), releasing him following the 2014 season (his 2015 option is guaranteed for injury only) or allowing him to play out his contract.
ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss and Field Yates offer opinions on several complementary free agents who have been linked to the Patriots, opining that New England should sign linebacker James Anderson and tight end Dustin Keller, while passing on tight end Jermichael Finley (who visited the team last week) and running back Michael Bush.
New Dolphins running back Knowshon Moreno appears to be out of shape at OTAs, and is playing behind Lamar Miller, writes James Walker of ESPN.com.
Walker, in a series of tweets, adds that free agent signee Louis Delmas is happy with the Dolphins’ roster: “I see a group of guys that want to win. We don’t have any 14- or 15-year vets on the team,” said Delmas. “This is a very young group that’s determined to get better each and every day. I plan on being a part of that.”

AFC East Notes: Jets, Pats, Bills, Dolphins

March 31st, 2014 at 4:34pm CST by Ben Levine

Let’s take a look at a handful of rumblings from the AFC East…

Receiver Jacoby Ford and offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger both visited the Jets today, tweets Howard Balzer of The SportsXchange. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News confirmed the news on Twitter.
The Patriots worked out Eastern Washington defensive end Anthony Larry, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net. As Pauline points out, Larry’s ability to play linebacker and rush the passer is similar to current Patriot Rob Ninkovich, who recently turned 30-years-old.
The Patriots are still in need of a defensive end and a defensive tackle, opines Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. Considering the team’s depth, the Patriots can think in the long-term, which Reiss believes is the “ideal scenario.”
With rumors swirling regarding DeSean Jackson‘s eventual destination, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com evaluates whether a deal would work out for the Bills. Rodak focuses on positives (like the similarities between Chip Kelly‘s system in Philadelphia and Bills offensive coordinator Nate Hackett‘s system in Buffalo) and the obvious negatives (the potential price tag and behavioral issues).
The Dolphins have become a fan of “show me” contracts, and ESPN.com’s James Walker looks at the team’s current batch of players on one-year deals. This includes Louis Delmas, Knowshon Moreno and Cortland Finnegan.

AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Wendell, Jackson

March 30th, 2014 at 1:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After the Dolphins’ signing of Knowshon Moreno, at least one running back is set to lose his roster spot in Miami, writes James Walker of ESPN.com. Moreno and second-year-pro Lamar Miller are guaranteed to make the squad, so that leaves a competition between Daniel Thomas, Mike Gillislee, and Marcus Thigpen for the final two RB roster spots (assuming the ‘Fins keep four backs). Thigpen offers special teams value, so the last slot will likely come down to Thomas or Gillislee. A training camp battle will determine the final outcome, but my guess would be that Thomas stays. He has the higher pedigree as a former second-round-pick, and Gillislee saw just nine snaps last season.

More from the AFC East, with notes from ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss:

Center Ryan Wendell‘s underwhelming market was due to two factors. First, Wendell was viewed as nothing more than a fallback option for teams who couldn’t land their top option. Second, Wendell’s main backer in New England was offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, who recently retired. Wendell, who eventually re-signed with the Patriots on a two-year deal, is expected to face competition for his starting spot on the offensive line.
Reiss does not believe the Patriots can sign DeSean Jackson due to his reported gang ties, especially after the Aaron Hernandez situation unfolded last offseason.
The Patriots simply don’t believe in financial commitments to running backs, as evidenced last season by the loss of Danny Woodhead to the Chargers, and this offseason when they allowed LeGarrette Blount to sign with the Steelers.
Although Vince Wilfork is viewed as a prototypical run-stuffing nose tackle, he will be a part of some sub packages. Wilfork’s ability to stay on the field is personally crucial — breaking the 70% snap threshold is one of three requirements for him to earn all $8MM of his 2014 salary.

Dolphins To Sign Knowshon Moreno

March 28th, 2014 at 6:19pm CST by Luke Adams

SATURDAY, 6:19pm: Full details of Moreno’s one-year deal, courtesy of The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson (via Twitter) — $1MM in signing and roster bonuses, $1.98MM salary and $18,750 per-game active roster bonuses.

FRIDAY, 2:51pm: Moreno’s one-year deal is worth about $3MM, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

2:04pm: The Dolphins have reached an agreement with free agent running back Knowshon Moreno, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Schefter, the former Bronco will ink a one-year deal with Miami.

The 12th overall pick in 2009, Moreno posted his first 1,000-yard season in 2013, racking up 13 overall regular-season touchdowns. Although the Broncos’ explosive offense aided those numbers, Moreno will be an upgrade over Daniel Thomas, pairing with Lamar Miller to lead the Dolphins’ rushing attack in 2014.

Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported yesterday that the Dolphins were “moving closer” to an agreement with Moreno. Broncos GM John Elway had indicated earlier this week that his team hasn’t closed the door on the possibility of bringing back the 26-year-old, but that always appeared to be a long shot, particularly when Moreno began to draw interest from Miami.

With Moreno off the board, the market for other veteran running backs like Maurice Jones-Drew and LeGarrette Blount could quickly develop. The Dolphins had been one of four teams linked to Jones-Drew, while the Patriots and Steelers were rumored to have interest in both players.

Knowshon Moreno, Dolphins Making Progress

March 26th, 2014 at 2:36pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agent running back Knowshon Moreno is “moving closer” to a deal with the Dolphins, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). It doesn’t sound like anything is necessarily imminent, but Miami looks to be the frontrunner for Moreno’s services at this point.

Moreno, 26, visited the Dolphins last week, and GM Dennis Hickey confirmed on Monday that the club remains interested in signing the former Bronco. While Denver GM John Elway indicated this week that his team hasn’t closed the door on the possibility of bringing back Moreno, it appears players like Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman will get increased roles with the Broncos next season, with the team’s 2013 starter likely to land elsewhere.

The 12th overall pick in 2009, Moreno posted his first 1,000-yard season in 2013, racking up 13 overall regular-season touchdowns. Although the Broncos’ explosive offense aided those numbers, Moreno would likely be an upgrade for a Dolphins’ running game led by Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas, who failed to consistently produce last season.

AFC Notes: Jets, Steelers, Dalton, Dolphins

March 25th, 2014 at 10:35am CST by Luke Adams

New York head coach Rex Ryan indicated today that the Jets aren’t done adding players at wide receiver. However, as Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post tweets, that doesn’t necessarily mean the club will add another impact player.

“[It] might be a sixth-round pick and not the move you want, but we’re not done,” Ryan said.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

The Steelers, who have been linked to Maurice Jones-Drew and LeGarrette Blount, will likely have a deal with an experienced running back by the end of the week, tweets Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Head coach Mike Tomlin said this morning in Orlando that the team expected to add running back depth in the not-so-distant future.
Asked multiple times this morning about Andy Dalton, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis was unequivocal in his support of the quarterback, suggesting he’d like to see Dalton locked up sooner rather than later, writes Paul Dehner Jr. of Cincinnati.com. In Lewis’ view, leaving the situation hanging over Dalton when camp opens could create an unnecessary distraction.
Speaking to reporters, including James Walker of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey said today that Miami has spoken to the agent for free agent tight end Dustin Keller.
The Broncos haven’t closed the door on the possibility of bringing back running back Knowshon Moreno or defensive end Shaun Phillips, according to GM John Elway (link via Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com).
Jaguars owner Shad Khan supported his club’s decision to spread out its free agent spending among multiple positions and players this offseason rather than focusing on a couple significant expenditures. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union has the details and quotes from Khan.
Linebacker remains an area of focus for the Titans, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, who says (via Twitter) the team is conducting a private workout with Louisville’s Preston Brown today. Kentucky linebacker Avery Williamson is also scheduled to have a pre-draft visit with the Titans, tweets Wyatt.

AFC East Rumors: Wilfork, Dolphins, Bills

March 24th, 2014 at 2:39pm CST by Luke Adams

We haven’t heard much on the Vince Wilfork front since a report earlier this month suggested the defensive lineman had asked the Patriots to release him. Reporters at the NFL’s owner meetings in Orlando asked Robert Kraft about the situation, and the New England owner expressed optimism that some compromise could be worked out to keep Wilfork in New England, since the veteran is one of Kraft’s “favorite” Pats. Still, Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald hears from sources that Wilfork cleaned out his locker around the time he asked for his release, so it doesn’t sound like he expects to return.

Here are a few more notes from around the AFC East:

Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey confirmed today in Orlando that his team still has interest in signing running back Knowshon Moreno, writes James Walker of ESPN.com. “Free agency is ongoing, so we have talks,” Hickey said. “We’ll continue to go through [it] and continue dialogue and see where it goes from there.”
Even if the Dolphins don’t reach an agreement with Moreno, the team could add another free agent elsewhere, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, who suggests that linebacker may still be an area of focus for the club. Jackson also adds that the Dolphins spoke to Darrelle Revis‘ agent before the cornerback signed with the Patriots. However, Miami was never a serious suitor since Revis wanted to play for a championship contender, and likely wanted more than the Dolphins were willing to pay.
John Kryk of the Toronto Sun spoke to Bills GM Doug Whaley about a number of topics, including the team’s quarterback position. According to Whaley, the Bills never looked into signing Michael Vick or Ryan Fitzpatrick, and consider their QB position “secure.” Whaley added that Keith Rivers and Brandon Spikes had been at the top of Buffalo’s list of targets heading into free agency.